Before I can fire these metal clay seashells…

I have to refine the holes and smooth edges. It’s dusty, dirty, time-consuming work, but essential to the quality of the finished product. After I’ve done all of this, I’ll place them in a stainless steel chamber on a bed of activated charcoal, carefully spacing each piece one-half inch away from its neighbor and placing a half-inch of activated charcoal between layers of the metal clay pieces. Then into the kiln it will go to be fired, which will take between four and five hours. Once cooled, the fired pieces will be rinsed and placed in a jeweler’s tumbler for several hours where they will go round and round until they reach a rich golden hue. It’s always a wonder to see the transformation and better still when added to a beaded cuff! The bronze shells used in this piece were dipped into an oxidation bath to tone down the bright bronze and give it an antique effect. This photo shows a step from my “Tide Pool” cuff tutorial.

Barbara Briggs

Barbara is an artist specializing in One-of-a-Kind art jewelry and adornment. She hopes to inspire others to create beautiful objects. Follow her blog by signing up at: http://barbarabriggsdesigns.com/follow-my-blog/